Sanae Takaichi Reappointed as Japan's Prime Minister

(MENAFN) Sanae Takaichi, president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was confirmed as the country's 105th prime minister Wednesday following a decisive parliamentary vote that reinforced her grip on power just months after she first assumed the role.

Lawmakers convened an extraordinary session of the Diet, with both the lower and upper chambers conducting separate prime ministerial appointment votes throughout the day.

In the House of Representatives, Takaichi swept the first round with 354 votes, comfortably outpacing Junya Ogawa — leader of the main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA) — who managed just 50 votes alongside other trailing candidates.

The House of Councillors proceeded to a runoff after no single candidate claimed a majority in the initial round. Takaichi again came out ahead, securing 125 votes to Ogawa's 65 in the deciding ballot.

In a separate vote, the powerful lower chamber elected Eisuke Mori — a veteran LDP lawmaker and former justice minister — as its speaker, while Keiichi Ishii of the CRA was appointed vice speaker.

In keeping with constitutional requirements, Takaichi and her cabinet stepped down collectively earlier Wednesday morning ahead of the formal launch of her new government later in the day.

Given that her cabinet was appointed only months ago following her elevation to LDP leader and subsequently to prime minister in October, significant reshuffles are considered unlikely, according to local media reports.

Media reported that LDP executives and ministers alike are expected to retain their positions, with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi all set to carry over their portfolios from Takaichi's first cabinet.

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